Euphorbia interspecific hybrid plant named ‘Eckcory’

ABSTRACT

The variety “Eckcory” is a new and distinct interspecific hybrid plant. The plant is characterized by clean and dark green foliage, eliptical leaves that have acute bases and acuminate tips, brightly colored pink and white brachts and strong lateral branching.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/690,370, filed Oct. 16, 2000.

Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima×Euphorbia cornastrainsterspecific hybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the new and distinct variety ofinterspecific plant termed “Eckcory.” The new plant was created in mygreenhouse and laboratory in Encinitas, Calif. The plant was prepared bycrossing the Euphorbia pulcherrima variety “M-6,” a Paul Ecke Ranchproprietary variety, with a seedling of the uncultivated speciesEuphorbia cornastra. The variety was selected by excision of a newlyformed embryo from a seedpod followed by growth into a plantlet onnutrient agar medium. The cultured plantlet was transplanted to agreenhouse growing-medium, where it developed into the mature plant ofthe invention. As the plant matured, it exhibited strong terminaldominance with little lateral branch development. To induce lateralbranching, the new plant was grafted onto a “selfbranching” rootstock byapplication of the procedures set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,276.

The plant of the invention is distinct from the parent plants from whichit was derived. For example, Euphorbia pulcherrima is a “short day”plant with respect to flower initiation, while Euphorbia cornastra is a“long day” plant. However, the interspecific hybrid flowered in responseto short days and the time to full flower development was found to be arelatively short six weeks, compared to the E. pulcherrima parent thattook nine weeks for flower development under the same growingenvironment.

The first vegetative propagation of the plant in vitro occurred inOctober, 1998 in Encinitas Calif. The plant was first propagated exvitro by grafting in August, 1999 in Encinitas, Calif. The distinctivecharacteristics of the plant remained consistent following propagation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The plant of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying colorphotographs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new plant as observed inEncinitas, Calif., USA during May 2000. Observations were recorded fromflowering plants, grown as one branched plant per pot. Plants were about14 weeks from unrooted cuttings when photographs were taken. The pot was17 cm in diameter and 13 cm in height. Color designations are comparedto the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published in 1966 byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

Origin: An interspecific hybrid created by cross-pollinating acultivated Euphorbia pulcherrima plant with an uncultivated Euphorbiacornastra plant. Classification: Botanical - Euphorbia X hybrid Form:Shrub Height: Short-medium Growth Flowering was observed, branched plantin a pot with an Habit: overall height of 42 cm, including the pot andan overall width of 42 cm. The plant grew upright but was somewhatspreading. The average diameter of the inflorescences, which wereprimarily composed of colored bracts, was 20 cm. Branching: Lateralbranches develop and terminate in a flower without pinching. However,when pinched before flower induction to remove terminal dominance, alllateral branches develop uniformly and at a faster rate. The plant ofdescription was pinched leaving 12 nodes on the stem. Strong lateralbranches of nearly equal length and vigor arose, one from each stemnode, resulting in a plant with 12 lateral branches. The lowermostlateral had 14 nodes and the uppermost, 9 nodes subtending the flower.Average branch The average branch diameter was approximately 3 mm,diameter and and color was 146C. color: Growth Rate: Rooting of stemcutting occurs in 18-21 days under intermittent mist. The plant willflower in about 6 weeks under continuous long night conditions and nighttemperatures of about 16-18 degrees C. Foliage: The foliage is clean anddark green from bottom to top of the plant. The leaves are of mediumsize, leaf blades typically 10 cm long and 5 cm wide for the largerlower leaves and 6 cm long and 2.5 cm wide for the smaller upper leaves.Leaf petioles are green and 6 cm long on the larger leaves to 3 cm onthe smaller leaves. The upper leaf surface is glabrous, but slightlyrugose and the under surface is finely pubescent. Leaf shape: Leaves areelliptic with acute bases and acuminate tips. Leaf margins are entire.Leaf Leaf arrangement alternate, single. Petiole length about 4arrangement: cm, diameter about 2 mm, color 178B (mature leaf petiole),146C(immature leaf petiole). Number of Typical number of leaves perlateral branch about 12, Leaves observed 9 to 14 leaves per lateralbranch. Color: Upper side - Dark green, darker than RHS 139A Underside - Green, near RHS 147B Bracts: There were 2-4 pink transitionalbracts at the upper stem nodes just below the inflorescence. These were7-8 cm long and 3 cm wide. Eight to 10 bracts subtending the cyathiavaried in size from 5 cm long and 2 cm wide to 1.5 cm long and 1 cmwide. Shape: Bracts are elliptic with acute bases and acuminate tips.Bract margins are entire. Color: Upper side - Pink, near RHS 57D Underside - Grayish-White, near RHS 156D Flowers: Generally, 8-10 rudimentaryand sterile cyathia (flowers) were present at maturity. Each cyathiumwas about 5 mm long and 3 mm wide and green in color. PathogenResistance to pathogens and pests common to E. resistance: pulcherrimaor E. cornastra has not been observed on plants grown under commercialconditions.

1. A new and distinct Euphorbia interspecific hybrid plant variety named“Eckcory” as illustrated and described herein.